We previously went over how to answer the most common restaurant job interview questions. To continue on with the series, today we will be reviewing how to approach the questions typically asked in a hotel job interview. Do keep in mind that there can be some overlap between restaurants and hotels, since after all, both are part of in the hospitality industry.

What do you know about our company?

Again, research is a must when preparing for an interview. There are a lot of people that work in the hospitality field, and they are proud of what they do. Hotel hiring managers are aware of that, so when they are looking to recruit, they want to find someone who is also as passionate about the job they are applying for and the company that they will be working for. Things that you may want to know in advance include, names of senior staff members or decision makers, big accomplishments that the hotel has achieved, and such.

Why do you want to work for our hotel?

Most likely this will be a follow-up to the prior question. HR wants to see if you will be a good fit with the company, and whether your values align with the organization's culture and vision. Be genuine when replying, and mention key items that you look for in a workplace, for example, the hotel's management style, treatment and service towards customers, reputation in the industry, amongst other responses. You can possibly talk about how the company is known to thoroughly train and guide employees to become successful hospitality professional.

How would you handle guest problems/complaints?

This question is designed to test your customer service skills, and how well you can handle difficult situations. This is a great opportunity for you to share a story of a time when you were able to calmly deal with an unhappy customer. You can also say that it was a valuable learning experience.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

As mentioned before, the hospitality industry is a really tight knit community, where everybody knows everybody. So oftentimes, people will leave positions for jobs that friends or family have suggested to them. That's why hiring managers prefer to take in individuals that are stable and are willing to stay with the company for a greater period of time. Let your interviewer know that you are interested in working in long-term position, and how you are not one to jump from job to job.

Do you consider yourself a leader or a follower?

This is a very good question, but also somewhat challenging to answer, since it really depends. If you say 'leader,' it might mean that you are not a team player. But if you say 'follower,' it can suggest that you are not very independent, and will have to constantly rely on directions. There is no one, set-in-stone, correct answer for this, so just be honest. Explain why you chose that label, and back up your answer with some convincing and supporting words.